A WebQuest

Mrs. Juhas

(A WebQuest for Primary Grades)

Introduction

Look at this odd creature! What is it? Could it be a bat? Yes, it is! Many people are afraid of bats, but they are really very important and helpful to us. Where do bats live? What do bats eat? How do bats navigate in the dark? Are bats birds or mammals? How do bats help us? You will find the answers to these questions as you investigate this WebQuest.

Task

You will need a partner to do this WebQuest. With your partner, complete the activity sheets in your bat investigation. When you have completed the activities, you and your partner will give a presentation (report) to the class on what you have learned about bats. You will also make a project with your partner to display as part of your presentation. The bats need you to teach others more about them. They need your help!

Process

Activities to do:
1. Let's find out where bats live. Ask your teacher to help you print a copy of the activity sheet. Click here for Activity Page #1. You will use this activity sheet to record what you have learned. Click on the bat below to find out where bats live.

2. Bats eat many different types of food. Click on this hungry bat to learn what they eat. Record this information on Activity Page #2.

3. I wonder why bats don't fly into things when it is so dark at night. Click on these bats to find out why. Record this information on Activity Page #3.

4. Birds fly. Bats fly. So.... are bats a type of bird? Click here to find out. Follow the directions on Activity Page #4.

5. Bats are very good to have around. Click here to discover why. Record this information on Activity Page #5.

6. With your partner, you will make a report to the class on everythingyou have learned about bats. You will need to make only one of the following to use in your presentation: a poster, model, diorama, graph, big book, or poem. If you have another project you would like to make instead of those listed, ask your teacher for approval first. Click here for a check list of what should be in your presentation.

Resources

Internet
Bat information and games : http://members.aol.com/bats4kids/index.htm
Bat sounds http://www.batcalls.org/
Bat houses http://www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat/bathouse.cfm
Echo the Bat (story) http://imagers.gsfc.nasa.gov/intro/story.html
Clipart http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/FX101321031033.aspx?pid=CL100570201033

Books
Aims Education Foundation. Bats Incredible! Aims Education Foundation. Fresno, 1993.
Bash, Barbara. Shadows of the Night. Sierra Club for Children, 1993.
Cannon, Janell. Stellaluna. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1993.
Gibbons, Gail. Bats. Holiday House, Incorporated. 1999
Glaser, Linda. Beautiful Bats. Millbrook Press, Incorporated. 1997.
Greenaway, Frank. Amazing Bats. Random House Children's Books. 1991.
Johnson, Sylvia A. The World of Bats. Lerner Publications, 1985.
McNulty, Faith. When I Lived With Bats. Econo-Clad Books. 2001

Evaluation

You will use a rubric to evaluate how you have done on this WebQuest. The evaluation includes the work done on the activity sheets, the presentation and project, and how you worked with your partner. The teacher will be using the same rubric for your evaluation. Click on rubric . Ask your teacher to help you print a copy. When you have finished this WebQuest, ask your teacher for your "Bat Certificate" .

Conclusion

Now that you are a bat expert, share what you have learned about bats with your friends, family, and school. You can help people understand that bats are really very good and not something to fear. Here are some fun websites you may want to explore:

Reflection

• What did you like best about doing the Bat WebQuest? Why?
• Did you like using the Internet to learn about bats? Why or why not?
• How will you use this information to help the bats?
• What did you like best about giving a class presentation?
• What did you like least about giving a class presentation?
• Did you enjoy working with a partner? Why or why not?
• Write about any other feelings you had about doing this WebQuest.

Use some or all of these questions to help you write a paper about what you have learned from doing this WebQuest.

Extensions

1. Make a bat house. Get permission to put your bat box at a park where bats like to go. You will need an adult to help you with this.
2. Make a bat treat to eat. Try some of these recipes.
3. Write a song about bats.
4. Design a "Save the Bats" poster.
5. Make a papier maché bat cave. Click here for the directions.
6. Enjoy reading a story about Echo the Bat.
7. Learn more about what you can do to help bats. click here.